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US 5,044,165 AGranted
Cryo-slammer
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas
InventorsJohn G. Linner, Stephen A. Livesey, Carmen Piunno, Mark Zaltsberg, Frank Gibson
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for ultrarapid cooling of tissue samples against a chilled cryogenic surface. The cryogenic surface is enclosed in a high vacuum chamber during cooling of the cryogenic surface. Dry non-condensable room temperature gas is introduced from an external source to raise the chamber pressure just prior to slamming or plunging a sample against the cryogenic surface. The cryogenic surface is heated for regeneration or cleaning purposes between each successive sample.
Claims30
Apparatus for cryo-slamming a tissue specimen comprising:
- a. a cryogenic block comprising a detachable cryo-slam surface and a cryofinger, said cryo-slam surface comprising a highly polished and mirror-finished face adapted to receive a tissue specimen;
- said cryofinger comprising:
- (1) a thermally conductive tubular member and a thermally conductive closure member closing one end of said tubular member, said closure member being adapted to detachably secure said cryo-slam surface to said cryofinger;
- (2) an orifice extending within the other open end of the tubular member and defining an inner cavity;
- said inner cavity conformed to enclose a heating unit;
- b. a cooling jacket jacketing at least part of said tubular member but not the open end of the tubular member and capable of containing a fluid coolant;
- c. an evacuatable chamber housing said cryogenic block and said cooling jacket;
- d. a vacuum line connected to the evacuatable chamber and adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum;
- e. a cryogenic condenser in the vacuum line adapted to cool fluids passing through the vacuum line;
- and
- f. a molecular sieve trap in the vacuum line.
8 more elements
Apparatus for cryo-slamming a tissue specimen comprising:
- a. a cryogenic block comprising a detachable cryo-slam surface and a cryofinger, said cryo-slam surface comprising a highly polished and mirror-finished face adapted to receive a tissue specimen;
- said cryofinger comprising a thermally conductive tubular member and a thermally conductive closure member closing one end of said tubular member, said closure member being adapted to detachably secure said cryo-slam surface to said cryofinger;
- b. a heating unit adapted to be removably inserted into the other open end of said tubular member;
- c. a cooling jacket jacketing at least part of said tubular member but not the open end of the tubular member and capable of containing a fluid coolant;
- d. an evacuatable chamber housing said cryogenic block and said cooling jacket;
- e. a vacuum line connected to the evacuatable chamber and adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum;
- f. a cryogenic condenser in the vacuum line adapted to cool fluids passing through the vacuum line;
- and
- g. a molecular sieve trap in the vacuum line.
6 more elements
Apparatus for cryo-slamming a tissue specimen comprising:
- a. a cryogenic block comprising a detachable cryo-slam surface and a cryofinger, said cryo-slam surface comprising a highly polished and mirror-finished face adapted to receive a tissue specimen;
- said cryofinger comprising a thermally conductive tubular member and a thermally conductive closure member closing one end of said tubular member, said closure member being adapted to detachably secure said cryo-slam surface to said cryofinger;
- b. an electrical heater adapted to be removably inserted into the other open end of said tubular member;
- c. a cooling jacket jacketing at least part of said tubular member but not the open end of the tubular member and capable of containing a fluid coolant;
- d. an evacuatable chamber housing said cryogenic block and said cooling jacket;
- e. a vacuum line connected to the evacuatable chamber and adapted to be connected to a source of vacuum;
- f. a cryogenic condenser in the vacuum line adapted to cool fluids passing through the vacuum line;
- g. a molecular sieve trap in the vacuum line;
- h. a source of dry inert gas connected to the evacuatable chamber and operable to increase the pressure of the atmosphere surrounding said cryo-slam surface;
- and
- i. electrical leads connected at one end to the electrical heater and leading out the open end of said tubular member whereby said electrical leads are thermally insulated from fluid coolant within said cooling jacket.
8 more elements
Apparatus for cryo-slamming a tissue specimen comprising:
- a. a cryogenic block adapted to receive tissue specimen and to ultrarapidly cool the same, said cryogenic block being enclosed within a chamber;
- b. vacuum means functionally attached to said chamber and adapted to reduce the pressure of the atmosphere surrounding said cryogenic block;
- c. cooling means functionally associated with said cryogenic block and said chamber;
- d. vacuum reversal means functionally associated with said chamber to increase the pressure of the atmosphere surrounding said cryogenic block;
- e. a combination trap functionally attached to said vacuum means and said chamber comprising a cryogenic condenser and a molecular sieve and adapted to reduce hydrocarbon build up on said cryogenic block;
- f. a sample delivery assembly functionally associated with said cryogenic block and said chamber, said assembly including means for mounting said tissue specimen and means adapted to transfer said tissue specimen from outside said chamber to said cryogenic block inside said chamber;
- and
- g. heating means functionally associated with said cryogenic block, said heating means being effective to permit rapid regeneration of said cryogenic block.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.